Human Remains Found In Chimney At Queens School

QUEENS, NY— The remains of an adult man were found inside a chimney at a Queens school Tuesday morning after an exterminator investigating a foul odor made the discovery, prompting a police investigation into how the man ended up inside the building.

The exterminator alerted school custodian Brendan Chavez after finding the remains inside a chimney at P.S./I.S. 113, the Anthony Pranzo School, in Glendale.

"It was definitely not a kid but an older gentleman with like a nine-inch foot," Chavez told amNewYork. "The pest control guy who found it first, I was the second guy. He was here but he went home, I guess it was too much for him."

Officers from the 104th Precinct responded to a 911 call shortly before 9 a.m. at the school, located at 78-23 87th St.

The city's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner removed the remains and will determine the man's identity and cause of death.

Crime scene investigators spent part of the afternoon examining the school's roof as detectives worked to determine how the man entered the chimney.

A law enforcement source said investigators are exploring whether the remains belong to a contractor who had worked on a construction project at the school.

Authorities have not confirmed that information, and the investigation remains in its early stages.

No students or staff were inside the building because summer recess began after classes ended Friday.

Police have made no arrests. An NYPD spokesperson said the investigation remains ongoing.